A Vibrant Seattle Through Transportation Excellence.

Lace up those shoes kids, it’s walk to school time!

The school year is back in session and we are seeing more and more kids walking and biking to school. Thanks to Bridging the Gap (BTG), five elementary schools around Seattle have new and improved walking routes in 2012.

This year, Highland Park Elementary, Greenlake Elementary, Sanislo Elementary, Dearborn Park Elementary and TOPS at Seward Elementary schools were recipients of funding from the BTG Safe Routes to School Program.

Highland Park Elementary School in Southwest Seattle was the largest project this year. Improvements around the school include a new all-way stop at 9th Avenue SW and SW Henderson Street; a new marked crosswalk and curb ramps at 10th Avenue SW and 11th Avenue SW and SW Trenton Street; and speed cushions were installed on 10th Avenue between SW Trenton and SW Thistle. A matching grant was received to help pay for the improvements.

Speed bumps installed on Tenth Avenue SW.

Improvements at the other schools include the installation of new curb ramps, marked crosswalks, sidewalk repairs and a new sidewalk funded in partnership with the Neighborhood Street Fund program.

The Safe Routes to School program works closely with school staff, students and parents to identify barriers and solutions to make walking and biking safer and more accessible. In the first five years of the program, 25 schools have received improvements to routes leading to the schools.

For additional information on the Safe Routes to School Program please visit their webpage and for information about the BTG Program please visit its webpage.

The streetcar will operate on the streets in much the same way as a motor vehicle. Almost all the intersections around this school have a full traffic signal. Children and their families should use these signalized intersections to cross the street. This will minimize conflicts with the streetcar and other moving vehicles. For additional detail about the streetcar including construction updates, please visit the following website:http://www.seattlestreetcar.org/firsthill.htm

I give SDOT a lot of credit for getting all of the corner ramps done. I have one problem though. How come there is always a puddle that forms at the street level ? Is this not a design flaw. You have to step into a puddle when it rains. or slip on an ice patch when it will surely freeze. Lots of money spent to have a safety flaw. Plus a liability for the city.